Darcy Wakaluk

Last updated
Darcy Wakaluk
Born (1966-03-14) March 14, 1966 (age 58)
Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Minnesota North Stars
Dallas Stars
Phoenix Coyotes
NHL draft 144th overall, 1984
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 1986–1997

Darcy Wakaluk (born March 14, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League from 1988 to 1997.

Contents

Wakaluk played for the WHL's Kelowna Wings and Spokane Chiefs. After being drafted by the Buffalo Sabres, Wakaluk then spent part of 5 seasons with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, winning the Calder Cup Championship in his first year (1986–87) and reaching the Finals once again in 1989-90.

On December 6, 1987, Wakaluk became the first American Hockey League goaltender to score a goal when he shot the puck the length of the ice into an empty net in a game with Rochester against Utica. Two days later, Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers would accomplish the same feat becoming the first NHL goalie to score a goal by shooting the puck, also shooting into an empty net (Billy Smith had been credited with a goal a few years earlier, but it had been an instance of an opposing player accidentally shooting the puck into his own empty net). Darcy would go on to be inducted into the Rochester Americans Hall of Fame in 2012.

He was selected 144th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 7th round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft and started playing for them in the 1988–89 season, where he appeared in six games. He played another 16 games (and 2 playoff contests) with Buffalo in 1990-91 until being traded to the Minnesota North Stars for Buffalo's 1991 8th round pick and future considerations on May 26, 1991. [1]

He played for the North Stars for two seasons, and subsequently the Dallas Stars, after the North stars had relocated to Texas, where, after taking over starting duties from Andy Moog at the beginning the 1994 playoffs, he swept the St. Louis Blues in Round One, winning the last game ever played at St. Louis Arena. In 1996, he was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes, where he played his final season after a career-ending knee injury in a game against the Washington Capitals in January 1997 forced his retirement.

Since retiring Darcy has been a Goaltending Coach for four teams in the WHL and another in the AJHL. He spent 9 seasons as Goaltending Coach with the Calgary Hitmen, (where he won a WHL Championship in 2010 while coaching a young future NHL star netminder Martin Jones), previously with the Vancouver Giants, Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves, Kamloops Blazers, and most recently with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. [2] [3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1982–83 Pincher Creek Oilers AAHA 38———228011603.05—————————
1983–84 Kelowna Wings WHL 312220155516306.29.836————————
1984–85 Kelowna WingsWHL5419304309424404.73—5142822204.68—
1985–86 Spokane Chiefs WHL4721221256222415.25—————————
1986–87 Flint Spirits IHL 9————————————————
1986–87 Rochester Americans AHL 112205452602.86.9105201411104.68—
1987–88 Rochester AmericansAHL5527163276315903.45.8816333282204.02.852
1988–89 Buffalo Sabres NHL 61302141504.21.833————————
1988–89 Rochester AmericansAHL331114015669713.72.869————————
1989–90 Rochester AmericansAHL5631164309517323.35.8831710610015003.01—
1990–91 Buffalo SabresNHL164536303503.32.88020137203.24.909
1990–91 Rochester AmericansAHL261010313636842.99.9009635443003.31—
1991–92 Minnesota North Stars NHL3613191190510413.28.881————————
1991–92 Kalamazoo Wings IHL110060707.00—————————
1992–93 Minnesota North StarsNHL291012515969713.65.879————————
1993–94 Dallas Stars NHL36189620008832.64.9105413071502.93.911
1994–95 Dallas StarsNHL154807544023.18.88310020103.00.889
1995–96 Dallas StarsNHL379165187510613.39.891————————
1996–97 Phoenix Coyotes NHL168317893912.99.899————————
NHL Totals191677521975652493.22.8898423641802.97.910

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References

  1. ↑ Bio. Wakaluk In Minnesota he teamed up with Jon Casey to share starting duties.
  2. ↑ "Calgary Hitmen - Hockey Operations & Staff". www.hitmenhockey.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-27.
  3. ↑ "Darcy Wakaluk". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
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